Maine bar suspends attorney who oversaw trust funds for clients in guardianships

Elizabeth LaPierre was suspended by an emergency order on Aug. 24. She has been ordered to turn over clients’ files to 2 court-appointed receivers.  

by Emily Allen 

A Portland attorney who represented court-appointed clients in guardianship cases has been suspended from practicing after the Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar alleged she was negligent with clients’ trust and estate funds, some of which were meant to help pay for the assisted-living costs of vulnerable adults in guardianships.

Elizabeth LaPierre was the subject of at least three grievance complaints filed by two former clients and a colleague before Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy signed an immediate interim order suspending her on Aug. 24. 

In one case, the petition alleges, a brother risked losing his status as guardian for his sister because LaPierre failed to meet deadlines for filing guardian reports with the probate court. A woman in another case reportedly feared that a deceased relative’s estate, which her children were set to inherit, would be foreclosed upon “due to the failure of LaPierre to act and probate the estate,” according to the petition. LaPierre was the relative’s designated personal representative.

LaPierre did not respond to requests for comment on Thursday via text and an email to her employer. Her voicemail box was full.

Until March, LaPierre worked for a firm in Falmouth, handling trust and estates law. The petition says she served in several court-appointed roles, including conservator, personal representative, trustee and power of attorney. In estate cases, she was responsible for filing important court records after a person died. In guardianship matters, she was in charge of using clients’ trusts to pay for living expenses.

The petition stated that LaPierre was responsible for filing important reports with the probate court on behalf of family members of people in guardianships. 

LaPierre now works for Maine Equal Justice as a senior staff attorney, the organization confirmed on Wednesday. None of the allegations in the bar’s petition deals with LaPierre’s work for the nonprofit, which offers civil legal aid services and advocates for economic justice policies. A spokesperson said LaPierre is not doing legal work for the organization during her suspension.

The bar alleged that LaPierre’s clients began struggling to reach her in 2025. A former colleague later told the bar’s attorneys that it was around that time that LaPierre was struggling with her health. According to the petition, the colleague, who parted ways with LaPierre earlier this year and later filed a mandated report to the bar against her, said LaPierre insisted on taking more than a dozen court-appointed clients with her. LaPierre also reportedly retained those clients’ personal belongings, including heirlooms. 

By May 2026, when a man serving as guardian for his sister filed the first grievance against LaPierre, she had not responded to multiple requests regarding the sister’s expenses and her trust, the petition alleges. The bar identified seven other examples in which clients and their new attorneys could not reach LaPierre about their cases. In the case of one client, a service provider that was unable to reach LaPierre about outstanding payments called police, who called Adult Protective Services. 

LaPierre did not respond to multiple calls, voicemails and letters the bar sent regarding these complaints, according to the petition. 

“The board believes LaPierre has demonstrated a pattern of misconduct including, but not limited to, severe negligence in handling vulnerable clients’ funds and potentially misuse of trust and estate funds,” attorneys Lisa Chase and Suzanne Thompson wrote in the petition. 

From May 25 to July 29, LaPierre was under administrative suspension for failing to complete ongoing education requirements for the bar, according to what the petition states was publicly available information on the bar’s website. The bar said its staff reached out to LaPierre’s current employer, who reportedly said the organization was unaware LaPierre was not allowed to practice.  

After bar staff reached the employer’s executive director, LaPierre called the bar and said on July 28 that she would respond to the grievances, according to the petition. Almost a month later, the bar’s attorneys said they still hadn’t received that response.

LaPierre completed her education requirements, however, and was reinstated July 29, according to the petition. 

Murphy, the Superior Court justice who signed an immediate order suspending LaPierre on Aug. 24, also appointed two attorneys to serve as receivers for LaPierre’s former clients while she is prohibited from working as an attorney.

Attorneys Kylie Germann and Jessica Braun will have access to LaPierre’s professional files, her clients’ trust information and any computer software or devices that were used for business and fiduciary purposes, according to a second order Murphy signed. The order makes an exception for files involved in LaPierre’s current work at Maine Equal Justice. The attorneys will help clients who need to find new lawyers, Murphy wrote, and will notify clients who still have personal belongings to retrieve from LaPierre.

Aria Eee, executive director for the Board of Overseers of the Bar, said she was unable to comment when reached Thursday because the case is still being investigated. She said anyone who is concerned about an attorney’s professional conduct should notify the board through the grievance complaint process, and that people concerned about attorney theft should consult information online about the Lawyer’s Fund for Client Protection. 

Editor’s note: Suzanne Thompson is married to a Portland Press Herald employee. 

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Maine bar suspends attorney who oversaw trust funds for clients in guardianships